Funded project – Blue Light Card Foundation

Armed Forces Week

Emma Woods-Bolger — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:27:30 +0000

Supporting Those Who Serve Beyond the Uniform

The transition from military service to civilian life can bring unique challenges. For many veterans, the loss of routine, identity and camaraderie can impact their wellbeing long after their service has ended. At the Blue Light Card Foundation, we believe that those who have dedicated their lives to serving others deserve access to the support, opportunities and communities that help them thrive. That's why we invest in organisations delivering innovative, evidence-informed programmes that improve mental health, reduce social isolation, build resilience and create lasting positive change. By working with trusted delivery partners across the UK, we can reach veterans in ways that recognise their diverse needs and experiences. From wellbeing retreats and peer support networks to skills development and community-based programmes, these projects provide practical support while helping veterans rebuild confidence, rediscover purpose and strengthen connections with others who understand their journey. The stories below showcase the impact of these partnerships and the difference they are making to the lives of veterans and their families every day.

Service doesn't end when the uniform comes off, and neither should support.

This Armed Forces Week, we're celebrating the organisations helping veterans thrive beyond service.

every veteran's journey is different

Ex RAF aircraft engineers set up support

Combining practical wellbeing workshops with a three-day residential retreat in nature, the programme equipped participants with tools to improve their mental health, strengthen communication, build resilience and develop a more positive mindset.
The impact was profound. "I genuinely feel very privileged to have attended this programme. It allowed me to reflect on the direction of my life and the control I have over it. I wake up each morning now and think, 'I get to wake up!' rather than having a negative mindset."

Demand for veterans' counselling

Our programmes have impact

At the Blue Light Card Foundation, we believe that those who have dedicated their lives to serving others deserve access to the support, opportunities and communities that help them thrive. Listen to Antony’s story by clicking play.

The service achieved an average rating of 4.97 out of 5. More than 80% of service users recorded results within the top two improvement categories.

These are exceptional outcomes for the veteran community, with the service not only enhancing wellbeing but also directly saving veterans’ lives and, in some cases, those of their families.

Men’s Health Week

Emma Woods-Bolger — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:49:48 +0000

Men's Health Week: How a Simple Walk is Helping Men Connect, Talk and Improve Their Wellbeing

For many men, opening up about their wellbeing doesn't start in a counselling room. Sometimes it starts on a footpath.

At the Blue Light Card Foundation, we’re proud to support organisations like Walk & Talk 999 that create meaningful opportunities for connection, recovery and wellbeing.

Founded in 2021 by former firefighter Dean, Walk & Talk 999 was born from personal experience. Having attended a local community walking group and experienced the positive impact it had on his own wellbeing, Dean recognised that many men in emergency services and military communities could benefit from a similar space.

The concept was simple: meet outdoors, go for a walk, and allow conversation to happen naturally.

What started as a single walk has grown into a nationwide network of free weekly sessions. Some participants come for the conversation. Others come for the fresh air, exercise or simply the opportunity to be around people who understand the unique pressures of service life.

There is no expectation to talk, no requirement to share personal experiences, and no need to be in crisis. Everyone is welcome.

For many participants, the walks offer something equally important: connection. A chance to step away from the demands of work and daily life and spend time with others in a supportive environment.

The walks are made possible by dedicated volunteers, many of whom have their own lived experiences and understand first-hand the value of peer support and community.

During Men’s Health Week, the importance of creating these spaces is particularly clear. Men continue to face significant challenges when it comes to seeking support for their mental health, and too many struggle in silence.

By creating opportunities for connection, conversation and community, Walk & Talk 999 is helping to change that.

"There's no pressure to talk. No expectations. No judgement"

If you’re looking for a positive step for your wellbeing, or simply want to spend time with others who understand the realities of life in the emergency services, NHS or Armed Forces communities, why not join a walk near you?

Partnership Announcement: The Breath Connection

Sarah Hancock — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:12:50 +0000

New Partnership Announcement

Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with The Breath Connection to deliver Blue Light Reset Retreats.

Blue Light Reset Retreats is a structured, evidence-informed nature-based wellbeing programme designed to support early intervention mental health, burnout prevention and nervous system regulation across the Blue Light community.

Participants will engage in:

- Guided (lowland) walking
- Nature-based practices/meditations, forest/nature bathing
- Outdoor mindfulness
- Safe cold-water immersion.

Alongside nature-based engagement, participants receive structured breathwork training, including functional breathing for acute stress regulation and dynamic breathwork for facilitated emotional processing. Education sessions focus on nervous system physiology, stress recovery, sleep support and practical daily resilience strategies. Shared meals and peer reflection circles foster cross-service connection and rebuild a sense of shared identity.

The programme integrates multiple reinforcing mechanisms of change:

- Behavioural activation through outdoor activity
- Physiological regulation through breath and cold exposure
- Psychological restoration through green and blue space
- Social reconnection through group-based participation.

“This funding from the Blue Light Card Foundation allows us to bring people together in nature to rest, reconnect and recover. But our retreats are more than a break away. We give people practical tools, breathwork at their heart, that they can carry with them and draw on for life. We’re hugely grateful to the Foundation for making this possible, and proud to be part of a network that understands the healing power of nature for those who serve, and have served, others.”

Sam Murray & Miranda Bailey, The Breath Connection

The Breath Connection have extensive experience delivering in blue and green space settings, using structured outdoor experiences, time in nature, outdoor mindfulness and safe cold water immersion to support psychological restoration, physical wellbeing and social reconnection. Their approach blends evidence-informed education with direct experience: participants learn how stress affects the nervous system and body, then practise tools that create ‘felt’ change in the moment.

To learn more about The Breath Connection, please visit www.thebreathconnection.org

Partnership Announcement: Surfwell

Sarah Hancock — Fri, 01 May 2026 14:03:26 +0000

New Partnership Announcement

Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with Surfwell to deliver Blue Light Community Wellbeing Retreats.

Surfwell use an evidence-led approach, working with leading academics in the field of Blue space and Blue health from key Universities who have helped to develop a carefully structured, scientifically based programme.

The programme leads participants through a bespoke psychological pathway that assists in breaking down traditional barriers to support proven to be more prevalent in Blue Light workers including stigma, confidentiality, organisational and systemic barriers and misattribution of need.

Surfwell addresses need by offering an accessible, preventative and non-clinical form of support that resonates with frontline staff. Surf therapy and blue space activities are proven to reduce stress hormones, improve mood, encourage physical health and promote mindfulness.

The programme promotes:

Mental health and emotional wellbeing, by reducing stress, anxiety and isolation.
Physical health, through physical activity and an introduction to the positive benefits of exercise and immersion in nature.
Peer connection, by helping participants feel supported and understood, making them realise they are not alone or unique in what they have experienced and how it has impacted them and by introducing them to a new social network.
Positive coping strategies, which participants can carry into daily life, helping them to be build personal resilience and self-regulate.

Sessions create a psychologically and physically safe space where participants can step away from the workplace environments that are often associated with the cause of their stress and trauma. They have opportunity to reset, decompress and build peer support with others who understand the demands of Blue Light roles.

‘We are honoured to receive support from the Blue Light Card Foundation. This funding will enable us to expand our delivery, helping many more members of the blue light community to remain in, or return to, doing the jobs they love’

Sam Davies, CEO & Co-Founder of Surfwell

To learn more about Surfwell, please visit www.surfwell.co.uk

Partnership Announcement: Blossoms at Larne Lough

Sarah Hancock — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:52:09 +0000

New Partnership Announcement

Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with Blossoms at Larne Lough to deliver Nature-based Therapy Courses.

This project addresses a clear need: high levels of stress, burnout and psychological distress among NHS and Blue Light personnel.

There is a need for preventative and restorative nature-based interventions that sit alongside clinical services and support staff before crisis point.

This 8-week programme increases staff wellbeing and decreases psychological distress through structured, therapeutic and meaningful engagement with nature. It works preventatively for staff in the workplace by providing protected time away from high-pressure environments to restore balance and create space to build resilience. It supports staff who are off on medium/long-term absence, or on phased return, offering a safe, non-threatening group setting.

Participants learn practical horticultural therapy skills including:

Seed sowing
Propagation
Food growing
The use of medicinal herbs
Organic and regenerative approaches that promote environmental sustainability.

The programme integrates psychoeducation on stress physiology and nervous system regulation, equipping participants with simple, evidence-informed tools such as grounding, sensory awareness and intentional outdoor practice that can be embedded into daily life. Sessions take place in a purpose-built therapeutic garden, where the environment itself forms part of the intervention.

“This programme with Blossoms at Larne Lough in Northern Ireland reflects a clear and urgent need to support NHS and Blue Light staff with preventative, nature-based approaches that sit alongside clinical services.

We know that sustained exposure to high-pressure environments can take a significant toll on mental health, and that early, restorative interventions are essential in preventing escalation to crisis point.

By combining structured horticultural therapy, psychoeducation and time in a therapeutic garden environment, this programme creates space for people to step away from pressure, reconnect with practical activity and develop tools to better understand and manage stress.

It offers a calm, supportive setting where individuals can recover, rebuild resilience and take practical steps towards improved wellbeing, whether they are in work, on absence or returning to service.”

Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO – Blue Light Card Foundation

To learn more about Blossoms at Larne Lough, please visit www.blossomsatlarnelough.org

Partnership Announcement: YourNorth

Sarah Hancock — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:27:40 +0000

New Partnership Announcement

Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with YourNorth to deliver Blue Light Community Wellbeing Retreats.

YourNorth Veteran Support CIC will use structured time in nature to strengthen wellbeing, increase autonomy and build meaningful peer connection.

Delivered in woodland and mountain settings, every retreat is built around purposeful time
outdoors.

Walking routes are shaped around the physical and emotional needs of each cohort.
Bushcraft sessions at the Lodge offer whittling, spoon carving, brush making, fire lighting and axe throwing, aiming to encourage focus, creativity and a quiet sense of capability.
Water based activity forms part of the established programme, with time on the water supporting focus, teamwork and a sense of calm.
Yoga and guided mindfulness sessions can also be included to support nervous system regulation
and overall wellbeing.

Participants leave with practical tools, renewed connection and a stronger foundation for navigating
the pressures of everyday life.

Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO of the Blue Light Card Foundation, said:

“Our work with YourNorth reflects a growing body of evidence supporting the role of nature-based approaches in improving mental health and wellbeing.

Structured time in natural environments is increasingly recognised as an effective way to reduce stress, support emotional regulation and strengthen resilience. These types of interventions create space for reflection, restore a sense of calm and help individuals reconnect with themselves and others.

The YourNorth programme brings this into practice through purposeful outdoor activity, combining challenge, peer connection and reflective time. Alongside the other initiatives we support, it reinforces the value of nature-based approaches as part of a broader, evidence-informed approach to wellbeing across the communities we serve.”

To learn more about YourNorth, please visit www.yournorth.co.uk

Partnership Announcement – Mind Over Mountains

Sarah Hancock — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:47:34 +0000

New Partnership Announcement

Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with Mind Over Mountains to deliver Residential Wellbeing Retreats for emergency responders.

This project is to protect and restore the mental health of emergency responders through professionally led, nature-based residential wellbeing retreats, supporting participants from across the UK blue light community.

Emergency responders and NHS mental health teams operate on the frontline of community care, yet often have the least time or space to protect their own wellbeing. They face relentless operational pressure, repeated exposure to trauma and increasing demand. There is a clear need for preventative, restorative and psychologically safe interventions that sit alongside statutory provision.

Mind Over Mountains will deliver retreats combining guided hill-walking, mindfulness, peer connection and structured time with experienced coaches and counsellors.

By taking staff away from clinical and operational settings into a safe, natural environment, we create space for reflection, regulation, team connection and skill-building that lasts beyond the retreat itself.

Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO of the Blue Light Card Foundation, said:

“This partnership with Mind Over Mountains reflects a growing recognition of the importance of nature-based, professionally supported interventions in protecting the mental health of emergency responders and NHS staff.

Those working on the frontline of care are often supporting others in the most challenging and sustained circumstances, with limited opportunity to step back and focus on their own wellbeing. This programme helps address that gap by creating protected time and space for recovery.

By combining structured support with time in nature, it enables participants to reflect, regulate and reconnect with themselves and their peers in a safe and supportive environment. Importantly, it also supports the development of practical coping strategies that can be carried forward into daily life long after the retreat has ended.”

To learn more about Mind Over Mountains, please visit mindovermountains.org.uk

Partnership Announcement: On Course Foundation

Sarah Hancock — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:35:26 +0000

New Partnership Announcement

Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with On Course Foundation to provide Golf Skills Development Events.

Why golf?

In On Course Foundation’s experience, too many veterans fall into a trap of social isolation as upon leaving the military, they are not only discarding their career, but also the camaraderie of Service life. Golf is one of a few sports that can be played on a level playing field, regardless of injury, illness or issue, engaging individuals in an outdoor, lifelong physical activity, which allows them to focus on what they can do.

Golf clubs are safe, local, outdoor spaces where beneficiaries can feel comfortable socialising and engaging, while creating a regular routine which can relieve the stress of day-to-day life.

Attendees receive in-depth tuition from Professional Golf Association (PGA) Coaches, whilst sharing the experience with like-minded veterans, learning and developing skills both on and off the course. Attendees will also focus on specific parts of their game, learning methods which can be used when practicing in their own time.

“This partnership with On Course Foundation highlights the importance of tackling social isolation through accessible, outdoor-based activity and meaningful peer connection.

We know that for many people leaving uniformed service, the loss of everyday camaraderie can be one of the most difficult transitions. Creating opportunities to reconnect in a natural, informal setting is a powerful way to support wellbeing.

Being outdoors together, whether through sport or shared activity, removes some of the barriers that can exist in more formal settings. It allows conversations to happen more naturally, often side by side, in a way that mirrors less clinical approaches to talking therapies.

Golf in particular offers a unique environment where individuals can focus on what they can do, build confidence through shared experience and rebuild a sense of belonging that is so often missed after service life.”

Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO – Blue Light Card Foundation

To learn more about On Course Foundation, please visit www.oncoursefoundation.com

Partnership Announcement: Woodland Warrior

Sarah Hancock — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:32:30 +0000

New Partnership Announcement

Blue Light Card Foundation are thrilled to announce we are working with Woodland Warrior to improve the well-being of members of the blue light community through a series of nature based activities and experiences.

This programme will provide participants with the opportunity to relax, learn new skills and become part of a well established community of like minded individuals providing peer to peer support.

It is widely recognised that participating in woodcraft activities can provide an increased sense of accomplishment and achievement from learning a new skill. It can also develop problem solving skills and can increase focus, motivation and concentration. This is something that can often be lost when feeling overwhelmed and burnt out from a stressful job role in the blue light sector.

Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO of the Blue Light Card Foundation, said:
“Through our partnership with the Woodland Warrior Programme, we are supporting approaches that offer practical, meaningful ways to strengthen mental wellbeing across the blue light community. Emergency responders are regularly exposed to high-pressure situations, and we know that time spent in nature can play a powerful role in reducing stress, improving mood and rebuilding confidence.
These workshops create a unique opportunity to step away from those pressures, reconnect with others and develop new skills in a supportive environment. It’s an approach that helps individuals reset, reflect and return to their roles with greater resilience.”

The programme allows attendees to access one-day workshops, as well as 7 additional rural experiences. In addition, attendees will be provided with resources to take home, encouraging them to utilise nature to improve their well-being, health and happiness in their own time.

One-day workshops include:

Woodland based craft activities, time around the campfire and a delicious campfire lunch.

Rural Experience Days consist of:

Dry stone walling
Hedge laying
Forest feasts
Foraging courses
Conservation tasks

We’re delighted to offer FREE funded places for Fire and Rescue colleagues, from call handlers and control room staff to frontline crews and support teams. This unique wellbeing programme gives attendees access to: A one-day Wellbeing in Nature workshop, 7 additional rural and nature-based wellbeing experiences. Time to recharge, connect and focus on personal wellbeing in a supportive environment

Places are fully funded but limited in availability BOOK HERE

To learn more about Woodland Warrior, visit www.woodlandwarriorprogramme.org

Impact Report

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:35:03 +0000

News

Blue Light Card Foundation publishes latest Impact Report

We are proud to share our Impact Report, showing the difference being made through partnerships, collaboration and support for the physical and mental wellbeing of the Blue Light community. The report reflects the Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting the person behind the uniform.

Across the UK, members of the Blue Light community face the cumulative impact of trauma, pressure and emotionally demanding work. These experiences do not simply end when a shift finishes, and over time they can affect mental health, physical wellbeing, resilience and family life. The Foundation exists to help ensure that those who dedicate their lives to supporting others can also access support themselves.

This report highlights how Blue Light Card Foundation is working alongside expert organisations and delivery partners to support projects that help people recover, reconnect and feel less alone.

It brings together the stories, partnerships and programmes that are helping to strengthen wellbeing support for the Blue Light community, while also demonstrating the importance of working collaboratively to extend reach and impact.

The report also reflects the Foundation’s growing focus on evidence-informed approaches to wellbeing, including programmes that use green and blue spaces, peer support and purposeful activity to help individuals process the impact of their experiences and build connection and resilience. By championing support that is practical, compassionate and rooted in understanding of the sector, the Foundation aims to help more people access opportunities to pause, recover and reconnect.

Through this work, Blue Light Card Foundation continues to champion a preventative and person-centred approach to wellbeing. The projects featured in the report show the value of creating spaces where people feel understood, supported and able to access help in ways that reflect the realities of life in service. Behind every statistic in the report is a person, a team, a family or a community whose wellbeing has been strengthened through support designed with care and purpose.

Emma Woods-Bolger, CEO of Blue Light Card Foundation, said:
“This report is a powerful reminder that behind every uniform is a person, and that person matters. We are proud to work alongside expert partners who understand the unique pressures faced by the Blue Light community and who are delivering support that helps people recover, reconnect and feel less alone. Our latest Impact Report reflects both the scale of need and the strength of what can be achieved when we come together with a shared commitment to wellbeing.”

The Foundation hopes the report will not only highlight the progress made so far, but also reinforce the importance of continued support and collaboration for the wellbeing of the Blue Light community.

Every project, partnership and fundraiser featured in the report plays a role in helping to build a stronger network of support for those who spend their lives helping others.

The full Impact Report offers a closer look at the people, partnerships and programmes behind this work and the difference they are making across the UK.

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